A legislative panel voted Monday to recommend the removal of restrictions on firearms, but stopped short of explicitly endorsing the repeal of Indiana's licensing requirement to carry a handgun.

The recommendation calls on the General Assembly to "remove hurdles that restrict the ability of law abiding Hoosiers to exercise their State and Federal Constitutional Rights to bear arms and defend themselves."

Sen. Rodric Bray, who led the panel, said after the party-line 15-5 vote that the recommendation could include any number of steps, from streamlining fingerprinting requirements to a full-blown repeal of Indiana's handgun carry licensing requirement.

"There are several different ways you can go and still support this recommendation," Bray, R-Martinsville, said.

Still, Rep. Jim Lucas, a longtime champion of repealing the licensing requirement, said the study committee's recommendation opens the door for lawmakers to get rid of the permitting requirement when they convene in January.

"I'm looking at it as a victory," he said, "because I believe this does pave the way to restore our constitutional rights."

Many law enforcement officials have expressed concerns about repealing the permit requirement, saying it could weaken public safety by removing the vetting process to legally carry a firearm.

But Bray said testimony during several hearings on the topic showed that the cost and inconvenience of licensing does pose a challenge for many Hoosiers.

The Joint Committee on Judiciary and Public Policy also recommended that the General Assembly identify ways to reduce gun violence by preventing unauthorized sales and improving access to mental health resources. The committee also recommended providing law enforcement with better tools to identify people who are prohibited from possessing handguns.